Labor Market Information Center

2016 Annual Summary

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

Natural Resources & Mining Supersector

The Natural Resources and Mining supersector is made up of the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector and the mining sector. Businesses in this supersector grow crops, raise livestock or extract natural mineral solids at a mine site, to name just a few examples.

South Dakota Covered Workers and Pay
2016

Supersector, Sector and Subsector

Number of Establishments

Average Number of Workers

Annual Pay

Natural Resources and Mining

1,049

6,426

$40,821

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting

976

5,577

$38,174

Crop Production

413

1,672

$37,757

Animal Production

390

3,325

$37,505

Forestry and Logging

34

124

$37,514

Fishing, Hunting and Trapping

3

15

$22,457

Agriculture and Forestry Support Activities

136

441

$45,511

Mining

73

849

$58,209

Oil and Gas Extraction

7

32

$92,919

Mining, except Oil and Gas

51

799

$56,740

Support Activities for Mining

15

18

$61,717

Totals may not add due to rounding.
Data subject to revision.
Produced by the Labor Market Information Center, South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting

NAICS Sector 11

The Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector added 199 workers (3.7 percent) from 2015 to 2016, for an annual average employment level of 5,577. The annual pay for 2016 was $38,174 an $887 (2.4 percent) increase compared to 2015. Percentage-wise out of the private sectors, NAICS 11 showed the largest worker increase of all major sectors and had the 8th highest percentage ranking in annual pay increases in 2016. Agriculture ranked 12th in average annual pay at $38,174.

The Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector includes establishments mainly engaged in growing crops, raising animals, harvesting timber, and harvesting fish and other animals from a farm, ranch, or their natural habitats. The establishments in this sector are often described as farms, ranches, dairies, greenhouses, nurseries, orchards, or hatcheries. A farm may consist of a single tract of land or a number of separate tracts which may be held under different tenures. For example, one tract may be owned by the farm operator and another rented. It may be operated by the operator alone or with the assistance of members of the household or hired employees, or it may be operated by a partnership, corporation, or other type of organization.

All five subsectors in the industry reported gains in workers between 2015 and 2016. Establishments in Fishing, Hunting and Trapping (NAICS 114) had a 7.1 percent gain, followed by Animal Production (NAICS 112) gaining 4.0 percent, Crop Production (NAICS 111) tallying 3.9 percent, Forestry and Logging (NAICS 113) and Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry (NAICS 115) with gains of 3.3 and 1.1 percent, respectively.

Actual worker numbers in order of highest to the lowest are: Animal Production (3,325), Crop Production (1,672), Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry (441), Forestry and Logging (124) and Fishing, Hunting and Trapping (15).

Four of the five subsectors showed an annual wage increase in 2016, with Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (NAICS 11) ranking 9th with an annual wage increase of $887. Within the industry, Crop Production (NAICS 111) led the way with a $1,074 increase (2.9 percent). Fishing, Hunting and Trapping (NAICS 114) is the lone industry to have a decline (4.9 percent) in annual pay.

Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction

NAICS Sector 21

The Mining, Quarrying and Oil and Gas Extraction sector gained 12 workers (1.4 percent) between 2015 and 2016. This gain brought the total for the entire industry to 849 workers. Two of the three subsectors in this industry lost workers, while one gained workers. The average annual pay for this sector decreased by $2,577 (4.2 percent), bringing the average annual pay to $58,209 in 2016. This sector ranked fourth among the higher paying industries; annual pay has remained stable for the past several years.

The sector as a whole includes firms that extract naturally occurring mineral solids, such as coal and ores, liquid minerals, such as crude petroleum and gases such as natural gas. Mining includes quarrying, well operations, beneficiating (crushing, screening, and washing) and other preparation activities performed at the mine site. There are two distinguishing activities: mine operation and mining support.

The Mining (Except Oil & Gas) subsector (NAICS 212) added 21 employees (2.7 percent). This subsector includes activities such as engaging in mining, mine site development and beneficiating (i.e., preparing) metallic minerals and nonmetallic minerals, including coal. The increase is likely related to the mining activities in the western part of South Dakota. As the demand and production for metals such as iron, gold, silver and copper ore increases, so will the need for establishments to fill positions. Over the past year this subsector gained two establishments.

The Oil and Gas Extraction (NAICS 211) subsector lost two workers (5.9 percent) between 2015 and 2016. The slight decrease brought the total employment level to 32 workers. This industry is comprised of establishments primarily engaged in operating and/or developing oil and gas field properties, and establishments primarily engaged in recovering liquid hydrocarbons from oil and gas field gasses.

The subsector Support Activities for Mining (NAICS 213) showed a worker loss of 7 (28.0 percent). The decline brought the total worker level in this subsector to 18 workers in 2016. The decline is likely related to the support activities which assist in overflow activities generated by our neighbor to the north (North Dakota). With production slowing and leveling off in North Dakota, the demand for workers to assist is also slowing. This subsector provides support services, on a contract or fee basis, required for mining and quarrying of minerals and for the extraction of oil and gas. Establishments performing exploration (except geophysical surveying and mapping) for minerals on a contract or fee basis are included in this subsector. Exploration includes traditional prospecting methods, such as taking core samples and making geological observations at prospective sites.